It was widely feared North Korea could conduct its sixth nuclear test on or around April 15 to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the North's founding leader, Kim Il Sung, or on April 25 to coincide with the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People's Army.

The North has conducted such tests or missile launches to mark significant events in the past.

Reuters

Kim Jong Un watches a military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA)

AP:Associated Press

Kim Jong-un unleashed a third missile test fire on Saturday

Instead, North Korea conducted an annual military parade, featuring a display of missiles, on April 15 and then a large, live-fire artillery drill 10 days later.

China said last week the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control.

In a show of force, the United States has already sent an aircraft carrier strike group, led by the USS Carl Vinson, to waters off the Korean peninsula to conduct drills with South Korea and Japan.

North Korea test-launched a missile on Saturday that appeared to have failed within minutes.

It was its fourth successive failed launch since March.

It has conducted two nuclear tests and a series of missile-related activities at an unprecedented pace since the beginning of last year.

U.S. President Donald Trump discusses North Korea's missiles on CBS' Face the Nation

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